Attrax to sell off-road motorcycle tracks dealer-direct

Canadian product designer Atelier Carignan Inc. made the pilgrimage to Indy to show the latest version of its Attrax off-road motorcycle track system.

Designed with an investment of $300,000, the patent-pending Attrax includes a rear track unit and optional front ski.

"We've been working on it for about five years," says Steve Carignan. "We tested it and found that it was a little too heavy before. However, in this new configuration, we've removed about 12 lbs. from the kit and brought the weight down to about 20 lbs."

The business end of the system, the 5.5-inch-wide and 95-inch-long rubber track, is mounted onto the rear wheel which, made of a shock-absorbing plastic and rubber compound, serves as a giant sprocket. The track then rolls around a nine-inch wheel positioned aft of the rear wheel and is held in place by twin aluminum arms bolted onto a bike's swing arm.

Neat, but is it necessary? "The traction system is as versatile as a rear wheel, but also allows you to travel more easily on softer surfaces such as snow, sand and mud," says Carignan. "And you never have to worry about your front wheel dipping because the ski will always carry it."

Attrax fits on most bikes with 18-inch or 19-inch wheels, including models from Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha. First time fitment may take a couple of hours, but refitment only takes about an hour. "You don't have to make any holes or screw anything in," Carignan says. "You only have to bolt it on using the swing arm adaptor, and we'll know exactly which of those to provide by the bike model."

Two years ago Attrax was distributed by Kimpex USA, at that time for $799 retail. Carignan now hopes to supply the product dealer-direct for $2,300 for the rear kit and front ski, or $1,700 for the rear kit only.